New centre to focus on energy demand

A new research centre is being set up with £19.5m of funding to study energy demand in the UK.

The UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand (UKCRED) is being backed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The centre will look to focus on the energy demand aspects of the transition to a secure and affordable low carbon energy system.

Over 40 academics

Professor Nick Eyre of the University of Oxford who will lead the researchers said: “The goals of a secure, affordable, low carbon energy system are only achievable if energy demand is reduced, decarbonised and made more flexible. Understanding how these changes can happen is a major inter-disciplinary research challenge.

“The UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand gives us a major opportunity to address this challenge, building on existing excellent UK research. We aim to play a leading role in global research, and for the Centre to act as a hub, enabling all UK energy demand research to have more coordinated impact on business and policy decisions.”

The Centre involves over 40 academics at 13 institutions across the UK and Professor Eyre will be supported by a team of seven co-directors with expertise across the key energy demand sectors - buildings, transport and industry.